Health Science Education Department

***The Fall 2015 Generic RN program is full. February 2016 and May 2016 clinical application deadlines TBA in updates on this website in August 2015. The SUMMER 2015 PNAD program (LPN-RN) is full. The Summer 2016 PNAD program clinical applicaiton deadline is 12.31.15

Our next HSE Information session is scheduled for Wednesday June 10th from 3:30-5:30 PM

Rutgers School of Health Related Professions (SHRP) Dental Hygiene AAS is moving towards a Bachelor’s of Science for January 2017. This means that this next application round- April 2015 to start January 2016 will be the last at the Associate Degree level and at Raritan Valley Community College.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the volume of applications for the Nursing program, only applicants who live or work in Somerset or Hunterdon County are eligible for admission at this time to the Generic RN Program. PNAD students who live or work in the counties will have priority placement.

* We do not admit students in transfer from other Nursing Programs

**Acceptance to the college does not imply admission to the clinical nursing program

*** Currently, RVCC does not hold NCLEX-PN or NCLEX-RN review courses. RVCC also does not offer PN or RN refresher courses. Please refer to the NJ Board of Nursing for any inquiry regarding nursing review or refresher courses - www.state.nj.us/lps/ca/nursing/

The Health Science Education Department at Raritan Valley Community College was originally organized in 1969 as the Nursing Department and graduated its first class in 1972. Since its inception, the nursing program has been accredited by both:

RVCC has developed articulation agreements through the University Center with schools such as Kean University and Rutgers University, among others, which allow students to easily transfer credits and obtain a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from those institutions. Click here to read about the University Center here at RVCC, including Kean University's RN to BSN Program. To read specifics about Kean University's RN to BSN Program, click here. For more information regarding Kean University's RN to BSN Program, please contact:

Kathleen L. Neville, Ph.D., Kean University School of Nursing Professor and Program Coordinator of Offsite Nursing Programs at RVCC 908-526-1200 X8917 kneville@kean.edu

Kean University School of Nursing Offsite Nursing Program @ RVCC New Website

Click here to read more about the Nursing Program's Philosophy, Framework, and Goals.

The Health Science Education Department offers two routes to prepare students for a career as a Registered Nurse, both leading to an AAS in Nursing. The Generic program is the entry-level route for students without prior nursing education, available as a Day or Evening/Weekend option. The Practical Nurse-Associate Degree (PNAD) program is the bridge option for students who have completed a Licensed Practical Nurse program, graduated the LPN program with a 3.25 GPA or higher, and are currently licensed and working as LPNs in New Jersey. The PNAD program operates primarily as a Day program. LPNs who do not qualify for the PNAD program may apply to the Generic program, and have the option to pursue Advanced Standing. To be eligible for Advance Standing, you must live or work in Somerset or Hunterdon County. Contact Nadine Larson for more information about Advanced Standing, or other admission questions that are not answered by the information and downloadable packets below:

Please note: Students interested in pursuing the nursing program will initially be enrolled into the AS in Health Science degree as pre-nursing majors. Students must complete the pre-requisites in order to become eligible to apply for selective admission for entrance into the nursing program.

Nursing Information Sessions

Students must attend a Nursing Information Session to be eligible to apply to the clinical Nursing program. These sessions are offered in the fall and spring semesters. Students can attend a Nursing Information Session at any time. Attendance is recommended during the semester before finishing prerequisites to ensure enough time to complete any outstanding requirements. A Nursing Information Session is the only place a student may obtain a clinical application. Clinical applications will only be made available to qualified students who attend the ENTIRE information session - late entry to the information session will not be permitted. Clinical applications can be turned into Nadine Larson once all prerequisites have been met. A student is not eligible to apply to the clinical nursing program until they have completed ALL prerequisites.

The nursing information session is approximately 90 minutes. Students must attend the entire session in order to receive a clinical application - no one will be allowed to enter once the information session has started. No confirmations will be sent for RSVP'S to these sessions, considrered yourself registered upon sending your RSVP email.

To RSVP for any Nursing Information Session, send an email with "Will Attend Nursing Information Session" in the subject line. NO confirmations will be sent for RSVP's - please consider yourself registered upon doing so.

ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Information

The ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) is the required nursing entrance test for admission. Information about the test content and study materials can be found at www.atitesting.com. The test covers Reading, Math, Science, and English. The test is $45.00, payable to the ATI TEAS website via credit card the day of the test. There is a $45.00 proctoring fee payable to RVCC via check or exact cash the day of the test. The total fee for the ATI TEAS is $90.00

ATI TEAS scores do affect the total admission score when a student applies to the clinical nursing program. For RVCC nursing program admission, students can test once every 4 months. For 2015 admission, TEAS results will only be accepted from tests taken since September 2013. ATI TEAS tests given at RVCC during the Fall and Spring semesters is only for RVCC students who are a Pre-Generic RN major who are applying to RVCC's clinical nursing program.

Students can search for ATI TEAS Version V testing dates (the test must consist of all four parts for RVCC admission requirements - Reading, English, Math, & Science) at www.atitesting.com. TEAS test results from an offsite facility must be submitted with the clinical application for review!!!!

**If you require testing accommodations due to a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 908-526-1200 Ext. 8418 or email disabilityservices2@raritanval.eduto apply for accommodations before taking the ATI Test of Essential Academic Skills

ATI TEAS Version V Test date at RVCC's Testing Center (located near the Welcome desk and the Admissions office) -

******There are no ATI TEAS Version V tests given at RVCC in the SUMMER 2015 semesters. The Septemeber 2015 ATI TEAS testing date will be posted here on this website for registration no later than August 30, 2015

If students wish or need to test off campus, please visit www.atitesting.com for information regarding taking the ATI TEAS Version V at a PSI testing center

TEAS testing dates on campus are posted monthly in the Fall and Spring semesters.

LPN Step Test

The LPN Step test is a required prerequisite and entrance exam for students wishing to apply to the LPN-RN program here at RVCC - PNAD Program. It will be given during the Fall 2015 semester at RVCC prior to the clinical application deadline of 12.31.15 for the Summer 2016 PNAD program.

Materials used to study for the NCLEX-PN would assist the student in preparation for this exam.

Students that will be eligible to apply for the Summer 2016 PNAD (clinical application deadline 12/31/15) program must take the LPN Step test in the Fall 2015 semester.

Fall 2015 LPN Step Test dates TBA on this website in late August 2015.

**If you require testing accommodations due to a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Services at 908-526-1200 Ext. 8418 or email disabilityservices2@raritanval.eduto apply for accommodations before taking the ATI LPN Step Test.

Raritan Valley Community College is making every attempt to provide a continuation of the Practical Nursing program that was offered by Somerset County Technology Institute. However, the RVCC program must be sanctioned and accredited by the New Jersey State Board of Nursing, who at this time has a moratorium in effect on the acceptance of new applications for any LPN programs. Therefore, RVCC is not accepting applications from potential LPN students at this time. We encourage you to explore the many other certificate programs available at RVCC, including Medical Assistant, Medical Coding, Fitness Specialist, and Ophthalmic Science.

If you would like to be put on a list to receive information about the LPN program when it becomes available, click here.

Associate of Applied Science Degree (AAS) - These programs award an Associate of Applied Science Degree and offer the dual advantage of preparing students for immediate employment while simultaneously allowing them to accumulate a significant number of transferable credits.

The Associate of Applied Science Degree program in Health Information Technology (HIT) prepares students for careers in health information management. The Associate Degree Program at Raritan Valley Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) ( http://cahiim.org) Health Information Technicians are employed in hospitals, long-term care facilities such as nursing homes, large outpatient and ambulatory care centers, as well as physician offices, health insurance companies and local, state and federal health agencies.For additional information, contact Kathy Reilly.

For the 2010-2011 academic year, 100% of the HIT students who took the RHIT certification exam, either in their last semester or after graduation, passed the exam, thus becoming certified RHITs (Registered Health Information Technicians).

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of medical records and health information technicians is expected to increase by 20 percent, much faster that the average for all occupation through 2018, because of rapidly increasing scrutiny by health insurance companies, regulators, courts, and growth in the number of medical tests, treatments, and procedures. In addition, with the increasing use of electronic health records, more technicians will be needed to complete the new responsibilities associated with electronic data management.

Students enrolled in these joint health care programs attend classed at both Raritan Valley Community College and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey following a prepared curriculum approved by the two institutions. For specific information regarding Rutgers tuition, policies and procedures, please visit: http://shrp.rutgers.edu For additional information, contact: Kathleen Michell.

The Medical Coding Certificate prepares students to determine appropriate medical codes, process coding information and maximize medical reimbursement. As the health care system grows in complexity and advances in medicine and technology continue, hospitals and physicians who want to remain in the competitive health care arena will become increasingly pressed to ensure that they are in compliance with medical coding guidelines and insurance and billing procedures. To this end, qualified medical coders will continue to be significant professionals in a wide range of health care settings. The certificate can be completed within one calendar year. Graduates will be prepared to sit for the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) certification exam to become a Certified Coding Associate (CCA). For additional information, contact: Kathy Reilly

The Medical Assistant Certificate program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Medical Assisting Education Review Board (MAERB). Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs, 1361 Park Street, Clearwater, FL 33756 727/210-2350 Graduates will be able to sit for the Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) exam offered by the American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA) or the Registered Medical Assistant (RMA) exam offered by the American Medical Technologists. For additional information, contact: Martha Logan-Bieler

A student enrolled in a course section that is cancelled by the College is given the opportunity to enroll in an alternate course section or to receive a full refund of all tuition, registration fees, and materials fees associated with the cancelled course section.

A student who withdraws from a course section during the Refund Period receives a 100 percent refund of all tuition and materials fees associated with the course. The registration fee is not refunded. After the refund period, no tuition or fees shall be refunded.